With the 2025 NBA Draft on the horizon, the Chicago Bulls will have plenty of options at their disposal. In a perfect world, the Bulls would be able to miraculously move up via the NBA Draft Lottery. However, the reality is, Chicago only has an eight percent chance of moving into the top 4 and a 1.7 percent chance of earning the No. 1 overall selection. But, hey, a fan can dream. And it's not like it hasn't happened before.
But short of the Bulls replicating some of their 2008 NBA Draft Lottery luck, the team will be selecting No. 12 overall. The good news for Chicago is that they will still have an opportunity to make some waves ahead of the NBA Draft. In fact, we'll explore three draft risks the Bulls should already be preparing themselves to make or, at the very least, consider.
The Bulls should trade up
If the Bulls don't get the ping pong balls to bounce in their favor ahead of the NBA Draft Lottery, they're going to be picking at No. 12. To be perfectly honest, no matter how "strong" or "deep" of a draft class this may be, it's going to be difficult for the Bulls to find a franchise-altering player with this selection. That's why if the Bulls are going to be aggressive heading into the NBA Draft, trading up has to be considered an option that the team should be willing to take.
There could be several options for the Bulls trading up, which could include dangling a player like Coby White. With their complicated salary cap situation, there's no guarantee the Bulls are going to be in any rush to re-sign White after the likely contract extension Josh Giddey is going to get this offseason. Because of that, White could emerge as a trade asset the Bulls can use to trade up into the 5-8 range. If a draft favorite such as V.J. Edgecombe or Khaman Maluach falls outside the top 5, Chicago should be willing to, at the very least, have those trade-up conversations.
The Bulls should draft a high-risk big man prospect
If the Bulls don't elect to trade up, but still want to make some waves with their late lottery selection, Chicago could theoretically take a huge gamble by taking one of the high-risk, high-reward big men at No. 12. In the eyes of some, targeting a prospect like Thomas Sorber, Carter Bryant, or even Asa Newell late in the lottery could be considered high or a bit of a reach, but at this point in the NBA Draft, that's what the game is all about.
Generally speaking, there are no certainties late in the lottery. If the Bulls feel strongly about needing a boost in the frontcourt and fall in love with one of the big men prospects not named (Khaman) Maluach or (Derik) Queen, who would probably be off the board at this point in the draft, this could be a risk that Chicago may be willing to take.
The Bulls should trade out of the first round to compile more assets
A third risky option that the Bulls can make heading into the 2025 NBA Draft revolves around trading out of the first round entirely in an attempt to compile additional draft capital in hopes of making a bigger move for a veteran star player in the future. Heading into the offseason, there are several superstar players who could end up hitting the trade market. If the Bulls want to get in any of those bidding wars, Chicago could use all the draft assets it can get.
Trading the No. 12 overall pick to add another first-round pick in the future could make all the difference for Chicago if they were to pursue a player like Zion Williamson, Trae Young, Ja Morant, or even Giannis Antetokounmpo (if it came to that). Understandably, the Bulls trading out of the first round in this year's draft wouldn't be a popular move, but it could put them in a better position to make a much bigger move down the line.
